I was a little surprised when I came across the 3.1 Phillip Lim Alix Circle Clutch the other day. After all, when most people think of 3.1 Phillip Lim, they think of the iconic Pashli Trapeze Bag. I was left blown away by how different the design was, and unlike anything I’ve seen before.

The 3.1 Phillip Lim Alix clutch isn’t exactly something that you would imagine coming from this designer, it’s a fresh new bag design for the Fall 2015 handbag collection that breaks away from the expected.

I must admit, it was the unusual handle that attracted me to this piece. The handle was actually inspired by a paper clip. You can’t see it very well in these pictures, but the handle is not one continuous piece. Instead, the ends actually overlap or by-pass each other at the top (much like how a paperclip bends and by-passes itself). Your hand slips through the handle so that it rests on the back of your hand while you clasp the clutch. The look is quite unique and I think it pairs nicely with the circular design. I also love the subtle zigzag trim around the perimeter and on the front. You can never go wrong with tone-on-tone details.